Functionality and the needs of blind and partially-sighted adults in the UK: An interim report

Functionality and the needs of blind and partially-sighted adults in the UK - An interim report

In 2005 the Rehabilitation Project Group (RPG) was jointly established by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), Action for Blind People and the National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People (NALSVI). Its purpose was to work with other statutory and voluntary agencies in the visual impairment sector in order to “enable radical improvement for blind and partially sighted people, through the provision of better rehabilitation services.” It was acknowledged by the RPG that the case for the advancement of rehabilitation services in the UK had to be predicated on a detailed, evidence-based understanding of the nature of the needs of the population, as well as the nature and extent of existing rehabilitation and other related services currently available to blind and partially sighted people.  In January 2005, Guide Dogs undertook to lead on the research required.

The specific research objectives were twofold:

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To describe the experiences of the registered population of blind and partially sighted people, and specifically how they function, in a range of life situations

To understand the factors that enable or act as barriers to the achievement of individual priorities

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The focus of the research was to provide policy makers with evidence which might assist in:

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Understanding the nature of the needs and associated priorities of blind and partially sighted people, as defined by blind and partially sighted people themselves

Providing a more focused context for developing proposals on rehabilitation service provision to blind and partially sighted people

Identifying issues which need to be addressed in the sector via campaigns and advocacy work

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The Interim Report can be downloaded directly from the website:

Functionality interim report - PDF (300KB)
Functionality interim report - Word (1MB)